Hilligoss' hitting streak reaches 30

Mitch Hilligoss extended his hitting streak to a Minor League season-high 30 games as visiting Charleston edged Columbus, 3-2, on Thursday.

After walking to lead off the first inning and grounding out to first base in the third, Hilligoss hit an RBI single to center field in the fifth to start the scoring. In the seventh, he hit a sacrifice bunt, and in the ninth, he reached on a throwing error by shortstop Jairo De La Rosa.

The 21-year-old leadoff hitter is hitting .368 during the streak with nine doubles, one triple and 12 RBIs.

Austin Jackson and Seth Fortenberry hit RBI singles in the fifth and seventh respectively to put the RiverDogs (24-23) ahead, 3-0.

Charleston starter Ivan Nova (2-1) blanked the Catfish (31-16) through six innings, giving up two hits, striking out four and walking one to lower his ERA to 1.96.

Reliever Paul Patterson tossed a perfect seventh, and Ferdin Tejeda notched his first save, despite yielding two runs on three hits over two frames with one strikeout and a walk.

Maiko Loyola scored in the eighth as Desmond Jennings hit into a double play, and Nevin Ashley slugged a solo homer in the ninth to bring the Catfish within one.

Columbus starter Wade Townsend (3-3) gave up two runs on four hits over five innings, fanning four and walking five.